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"He is also potentially wasting police time as the Crown Prosecution Service current stance is to question any attempt to prosecute where evidence is gathered by private entrapment or an unregulated 'agent provocateur', and not through regulated police operations.

"Finally and most importantly, it could divert genuine victims away from reporting offenders to the police or other authorities.

Mr Rivers said he intends to continue his crime-fighting activities and does not consider himself a vigilante.

"I have taken legal advice and have not broken any laws and won't be ceasing or desisting," he told the Exter and Express Echo .

"I am simply given the police information – intel – it is their choice if they act on it or not.